Maria’s Note: Back to Egyptian Fridays, Mr. President, it’s your turn.

Different Egyptian opposition groups have called for a march today to protest against the Muslim Brotherhood increasing control over state institutions. The infamous TV presenter Tawfiq Okasha was the first one calling for demonstrations on 24 August against Morsi and the Brotherhood. After him, former MP Mohamed Abu-Hamed publicly supported Okasha’s call.

These two figures are not mass leaders or representatives of the Egyptian revolutionary forces. However, they are not the only people who want to see the power of the Brotherhood diminished. Lately, the calls against Morsi and the Brotherhood have gained power in the country and part of the opposition has taken advantage of this opportunity to organize an anti-Muslim Brotherhood rally. Dozens of people are already protesting in Tahrir against the monopolizing power of the Islamist group. The demonstrators plan to march from Tahrir towards the presidential palace in Heliopolis in order to ask for the resignation of the president. The nature of the demonstration is supposed to be peaceful. Security forces have accepted the protest as long as there are no acts of violence. Nevertheless, it seems there have been calls to attack and burn Muslim Brotherhood headquarters. 

Members of the Brotherhood and other Islamist groups plan to carry out a pro-Morsi demonstration coinciding with the one against the Brotherhood.

Different opposition groups have not backed the protest as they consider it does not represent the interest of the revolution.

This could be an opportunity for opposition forces to reunite and define a series of clear interests, which could rejuvenate the old wheels of the Egyptian political machine. Until now, opposition forces have not coordinated, fact that is hampering the establishment of a democratic apparatus in the country.